I can be very good at pretending. Pretending I am strong, pretending I can overcome my past and pretending I do not have issues. The only way my pretending works is if I do not allow myself to get close to anyone, as long as I focus more on others than on myself. This strategy has worked well most of my life. Sometimes things hurt too much to think or deal with them. Sometimes verbally speaking about my issues is too hard because if I say it then they will be real. Honestly, most of my life the one complement that is most repeated to me is that I am strong. I almost feel as if I am letting everyone down by having emotions, by being weak, by being vulnerable. Not only am I letting people down, I am letting myself down because I am giving my strength away by being human (as strange as that seems). The simple reality is that I have survived up until this point by pretending. I pretended I was ok and never put my problems on anyone when my father was sexually abusing me. When my husband was abusive, I did the same. I did not know there was another way to survive in this world. In fact, surviving is pretty much all I have done up until this point.

Thankfully, I am no longer in crisis mode. For the first time in my life, my life is mine. Finally, at 28, I have control of my life and can blame nobody for my actions, feelings, thoughts, or situation. At first, I was unsure how to handle this new power. It was so severe I was unable to make the choice to go for a walk with the kids because it felt wrong. I felt I needed permission and I could not make the decision to do anything on my own. That was a year ago. But today things are different.

I have grown more this past year than I have probably my whole life. I see more, I know more, I love more and I am finding myself. Two years ago if you told me I would be where I am today, I would have laughed at you…thought you were crazy. I “knew” better than to leave my husband, I “knew” better than to take him to court and I sure as hell “knew” that divorce and filing for custody were not options for me. I had no control, no safety, no trust. My entire life evolved around making an abusive, drug addict who hated everything (including me) happy. It was impossible. The more I sacrificed money, my self respect, my thoughts, my freedoms, the more I lost myself. My thoughts were no longer my own, they were entwined with his and in no way was this a good thing. I was barely a shell of a human…no longer a woman, no longer a mother, and certainly no longer a wife. I was scum, a parsite, stupid and every negative thing.

Abusers choose people who love, people who have compassion, people with empathy. They break you down and make you believe it is all your fault. Every action they do is to control you, to hurt you, to fuel their own ego and inadaquacies. It works well for the abuser because a normal loving human could not imagine doing what the abuser does. A normal human tries to figure out why someone would do those things. A normal human loves and trusts their spouse. So, when their spouse tells them that everything is their fault…they eventually believe it because nothing else makes sense.

I assumed that when I left I would be the person I can be, the person God made me to be and that the past would be the past. I was wrong. It is not that simple. After the initial shock of leaving, things do get better. 1000X better than living in an abusive relationship. But you are not healed, there are still lingering deep deep issues.

My main goal right now is to retrain the way I think. The subconscious is more powerful than I know, but it is not impossible to change. If I speak to a domestic violence survivor, I can tell them the truth. Everything they need to hear. My heart and brain know that every single word I speak is truth, “You are not to blame”, abusers “Choose to abuse”, and that how they are feeling is normal. The problem is that try as I might, I believe I am different (although I can not pinpoint why or how). The things that are true for others are not true for me. I have basically been brainwashed and knowing the truth does not make it true in my gut.

Now, all my life I have been in survival mode. Abused my more people than I care to remember. Never having a say over what happens to my body. Never having a voice. Never being loved or loving myself.

I am done being in survival mode. I am done scrapping by. I am done pretending. Silence fuels the problems. Ignoring issues allows them to fester. I have been hurt too much, by too many people and I am unwilling to hurt myself any longer.

Sorry I have not been blogging recently. I recently have finished my first semester at the university (I am getting my criminal justice degree). I got 4 A’s and a high B. I must admit…I am disappointed. But it is ok. I just need to try harder next semester.

Anyway, I have finally moved out of the domestic violence shelter that my kids and I lived at for 11 months. We didn’t get the nicest of places, but it is a place to call home. Since my divorce, things have overall been calm. I have my emotional moments, but all is well. There has been zero contact with my now ex-husband, he does not know where we are and we are all safe.

I am finally at the place where I see my role in the past and where I want to overcome all of the deep issues. I truly thought that after being away from him and safe for over a year that I would be “over” all of my issues. The fact is that I realize now I have more deep rooted issues that I thought. That is ok because realizing the issues and admitting them are the first steps toward overcoming them.

This blog (and my subscribers) have helped me get to the place I am right now and I think it is past due that I jump back in continue blogging my journey.

For perhaps the first time in my life, I am defining who I am, my own goals, and who I want to be. At 28, I am finally free from abuse, harassment, intimidation and feeling responsible for the feelings of those around me.

So who am I? I am Brandi (last name withheld) an smart, caring loving woman and mother to three small children. Since I cam remember, I have always wanted to help people. My dreams have shifted from trauma surgeon, to emt, to fire fighter, to police, to corrections…and finally I have all but settled on probation officer, detective, and my final goal forensics (blopd splatter specialist etc). I have a deep desire to help victims of crimes, to get justice for those who have been killed, as well as help those who commited unspeakable crimes.

In my free time, I love arts and crafts, learning to live within my means and rely on myself, as well as guiding my kids in their journey to fimd themselves and become productive loving adults.

My husband was in default and did not appear for our custody/divorce hearing. I was granted sole legal and physical custody of our three children as well as the disolution of divorce.
A new chapter is begining and I am very thankful that my children and I were given this amazing do over…and a chance for happiness and safety.
God is good, He is faithful. All things do work for the good of those who love Him.
I am proud of myself, thankful for this blessing and appriciate all the support I have had through these past few months. I was brave enough to go all out and fight for what we need and God was faithful….blessing us more than I could have ever expected

Today also marks 1 year that my children and I have been living in shelters. Every day (aside from the single day I got a hotel for us for the night) we have been living in domestic violence shelters. The first two we stayed about 60 fays each. Which means this long term domestic violence shelter has been our home for the past 8 months.
It has been an incredible journey to say the least. I am very thankful to the people and organizations that have helped us get this far.
I have had no contact with my abuser (husband) since September when I was granted a full order of protection. I have my custody/divorce hearing on the 12th of this month and I should be granted what I requested since he did not respond or object to me having full custody. I also asked that he be not granted any visitation. I choose to not request child support to help ensure our safety and to cut all ties as clean as possible. So…in less than 2 weeks…I should be single (divorced) for the first time in over 10 years. Strange to think about…but very liberating and freeing.
I enrolled in online college with an accredited university to get my associates in Criminal Justice. I have applied for the Women’s Independence Scholarship Program (WISP). The scholarship is for women who have left an abusive relationship and need schooling to better provide for their families. I am waiting to see if I get it *fingers crossed*. The average award is 2k paid to the school you are enrolled in.
I also applied for a scholarship through my church for Women in Transition (divorce, leaving abusive relationship, widows etc). I thought if I got the scholarship it would be $100, but I received a letter saying I was granted a $1000 award paid to my school!! So thankful!! Classes start on August 18th…and I am taking a full load of 12 credits a semester.
Soooo…with the online school thing..I will be needing to purchase a laptop!! Yay!! So besides school I will be able to focus on my blog more, pretty it up, make it more user friendly, complete with hyperlinks, helpful information and more about recovering from abusive relationships. So excited!!

So…stay tuned for an improved blog from me, Brandi.

I love you guys…you have supported me through this all and finally I will have the resources to give back in a more produ

I did not cry because they will br raised in a “broken” home.
I did not cry because of the things the witnessed snd have gone through.
I did not cry because (hopefully) their dad will not be in their life.
I did not cry because they are disadvantaged, or because it will be hard for us.

I cried out of happiness. Today, all four of us were cuddling on the house and it just hit me how much they are thriving, how much they have grown, how they are such great kids, and how happy they really are.

Beyond a shadow of a doubt, leaving was the correct choice. My children are safe, healthy and happy. They are no longer abused, they are not stressed, they do not see mommy and daddy arguing or daddy hurting mom. It has almost been a year since we left and they are totally different kids.
I am thankful I was able to leave while they are still young and that I have not brought them into another unhealthy relationship.
These children are beautiful human beings. They are our future. No relationship is worth what these kids have been through.